Posted on 06/20/2002 5:55:48 AM PDT by marshmallow
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2002 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II harshly condemned Tuesday´s suicide attack by a Palestinian, which killed 19 people and wounded 50 in Jerusalem.
Violence rocked the Mideast city again today, as a suicide bomber blew up himself and six other people at a bus stop. More than 35 were wounded.
"The tragic news of yesterday´s attack, which sowed terror and death in Jerusalem, can only elicit the most absolute reprobation on the part of all," the Pope said today. Many of the dead and wounded were students going to school by bus.
At the end of the weekly general audience, held in Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father added: "I say again to whomever plots and plans such barbarous actions that he will have to answer to God."
"While I express by heartfelt human and spiritual solidarity to the mourning families, as well as to the wounded," John Paul II told several thousand pilgrims, "I invite all to pray to the Lord together with me so that he will change the hardened hearts and inspire sentiments of peace and reciprocal forgiveness among those who live in that region that we so love."
No, no. It's God who is sending them to do this. They have a hotline to the Almighty. He tells them "go forth and slaughter indiscrimminately. Especially children. I like that."
And that takes it all back. Moral equivocation. Heinious moral evocation.
Well, look at the bright side.
At least he didn't sugest that the Israelis try to "win the hearts and minds" of the Muslim Mass Murderers.
Sometimes it's so easy to forget that "turning the other cheek" is a profoundly personal and individual decision and act of faith.
There is a tendency in some to presume to make it for others...
Spare us the lecture in moral theology.
The Pope asked those who had assembled to hear him to pray for the conversion of the "hardened hearts" that harbor hatred and promote terrorism. He spoke of his "spiritual solidarity" with the victims and their families, and asked prayers for those people as well.
However, the main focus of the Pope's remarks was a stern condemnation of terrorist actions. The latest bombing, he said, "can only cause the most absolute condemnation." He continued: "For the nth time I repeat, to those who plan and carry out such barbarous actions, that they will have to answer before God."
You are clueless.
Anyone who thinks "turning the other cheek" means excusing a the murderer of your children while he remains committed to killing the rest of them, is more than a fool -- they are accomplices to murder.
I'm sure that means a lot to the Muslims...
It's Official: LAT/WP vs Free Republic Settles.
Bingo. Also, he never says "if someone slits your throat, let him disembowel you too." or "if someone kills your child, let him kill the other ones too." What Jesus was referring to there are personal insults or inconveniences, not deadly violence.
Sorry, but suggesting "reciprocal forgiveness" in the context of these continuing murders is insane!Like I said, you are clueless. He didn’t suggest that in the context of the continuing murders. He asked that people pray that GOD will CHANGE the hardened hearts. Would GOD choose to do so, then there obviously would not be continuing murders.
Why you think asking people to pray for peace is moral equivocation is beyond me.
Some people are just desperate to condemn the Pope. They are willing to yank any 2-3 words out of context, rip them from the Pope’s intent, stuff them with their own distorted interpretations, and rant and rave about what the Pope meant being wrong. You need to look at what he said, he was asking people to pray.
patent +AMDG
So he should shut up because the Muslims aren’t listening?Papal CondemnationI'm sure that means a lot to the Muslims...
Amazing. Every day people around here whine that the Pope isn’t doing enough to condemn the terrorism. When he does issue his statements like this, you first get guys like BVW squawking about how they didn’t get to write it in exactly the words they wanted, and then we get someone like you squawking about how the Muslims don’t care, so why does he bother saying it? Good grief.
patent +AMDG
I never said that, and never did that. I'm just making an observation, it wasn't meant to slam Catholics or anything.
That is **not** what the Pope is saying. He said those responsible for this will "answer for it to God". Clearly and unambiguously.
He says essentially two things.
1) He condemns outright the suicide bombing.
2) He askes people to pray to God for peace, through a change of men's hearts.
That seems perfectly reasonable to me.
The comment about reciprocal forgiveness makes no statement about the respective guilt of the two parties in this conflict. It simply acknowledges that the two sides hate each other because of real or imagined wrongs suffered. For peace to come, each side must let go of this hate and forgive.
Not one. Both.
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